Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-14
A GENUINE MANIA.
A POLICE CAPTAIN ANALYZES THE
CAUSE OF KlEPTOMkNIA.

CAUSE OF KLEPTOMANIA.
Description Of Typical Case - How
EIeptomaniacs Have Sometimes Been
Brought to- Their Senses-The Neces-
sity for Temporary Confinement.
s.Do you believe that kleptomania is gen.
uine mania, captaini" queried reporter Of
one of the oldest police captains in the city.
"Of course l do. So would you if you could
see the number of cases have seen, and had
the incontrovertible proofs OF actual mania
that have had It's delicate matter, you
know. The afflction strikes high and low.
But the cynical world calls theft theft,
whether it be the act of a free win agent or
the irresistible impulse of lunatic. There
are more of these unfortuBates than you
imagine"
"Can you describe typical caseF'
"a dozen of them if you desire. The case
Of a lady, now nearly 40 years old, Of fine
family by birth and the wife of wealthy
and prominent professional man, is a most
thoroughly representative case Her husband
is devoted to her. His wealth enabled him to
crafty her every desire and whim- Beauti-
full children, who are idolized by both
parents, were given unto them. Yet hardly
q week passes by that that lady does not re.
sort to the methods OF the common shoplifter.
The strongest proof Of mania III her case,
however, is found in the character of the ar
ticles she steals. do not mean by that state
ment that the lady confines herself to any ore
class of things On the contrary, she will ap-
propriate anything, valuable or otherwise
p,,t h.,r of hos baFt
of things of no earthly use to her or hers
baby shoes and stockings, crockery Of
q common kind, cheap iewelry, miserable
dress stuffS, which lady in her position
would not even venture to give away, and so
on through the catalogue of unavailable and
worthless rubbish. Years ago these pecula-
tons gave her husband much distress and
humiliation. Now it has been customary to
keep close watch on her, to note the goods
taken and render the husband yearly bill
for their value. These bills, in at least two
stores, frequently amount to 500 per year.
Formerly, when her theft5 were discovered
and the lady was apprised OF the fact, her
grief and shame were pitable. But the old
impulse would return, and, after few Inn
potent efforts at resistance, would resume
full sway. So far as the lady knows now It
is many years since her thefts have been dis
covered. Another strange feature in the mat
ter is that she is an earnest Christian woman,
giving freely of her time and money for the
advancement of all good works"
BROUGHT TO THEIR SENSES
sCan't you cure this LAMA if you take it
in time."
II am glad to say that in several instances
have been able to bring young men to their
senses
"How did you do it,"
@By srousing their pride and a fear ef
public disgrace. Take for example this case.
A man came to me about two years ago aud
said: MY son is a confirmed thief. He has
been dismissed from several positions for en-
bezzling sums varying from IS to $50. In
each instance have made the amount good.
But he is now nearly 90 years old, and,
although free from other vicious habits,
cannot tell at what moment his thefts NAV
reach into the hundreds or thousands. Can
you do anything to save my boy from the
disgrace which is bound TO come if he keeps
onP
II said to him, Bring the boy to me- He
left the police station and returned with the
young man. / questioned the youth He
told me he was helpless. The impulse to ap-
propriate the property Of others when it
struck linn dominated his whole being and
overpowered the promptings of Judgment
and conscience. He did not consider that he
was a thief. His case was evidently bad
one, so said to him steInly: you are thief,
young man, and dangerous one You GER
tainly cannot be left at liberty any longer
"The color left his face as he asked what
meant. l told he would have to be locked up
for at least six months. Then l took the
father aside and explained te him my theory
and the necessity for at least temporary con-
fnement to impress upon the boy that he had
been stealing. Tearfully the father aequi-
esced. Arrangements were made very quietly,
and the young man was jailed for three
months. When he was released, supposing
that all his friends knew of his shame, he be-
sought bis father to secure him a positiors IN
Chicago. The desire was complied with Z nd
tho young man is now highly esteemed and
promising fellow. The remedy was seseze,
but effective New York Sun.